I think I was probably 3 years old when this picture was taken! That’s my big brother, Dickie, and my sister, Melodie and that little bit of a thing, is me.
I miss my brother, who died far too young, and every day in every way, I am grateful for having the best big sister, ever!
Today would have been my brother’s 65th birthday. Richard “Dickie” was seven years older than me, which when you are a child seemed like a million, billion, years.
Melodie was just two years younger, and she and Dickie were really close. When I was small, they took pretty good care of their little sister.
Melodie, Dickie and me.
My brother was born prematurely and was very small. His birth was a tough one, and he had life long after effects from it.
My brother, was well loved by many. The one thing I can say is that he tried hard, always and he loved deeply.
He married a woman with four kids, and I know he loved each and every one of them. Together they had two sons. They will unfortunately never really know how proud and happy he was the days they were born. You see, when he was in his early twenties he became ill with cancer.
He loved to cook and he loved his music. Although he never could learn to read music, all he had to do was hear something once and he could play it either on the guitar or the piano.
He learned he had cancer at the age of 26. On April 1st, April Fools Day. And he fought long and hard to win his battle against that dreaded disease. Unfortunately, back in 1977, cancer treatment was brutally hard, and seldom worked on Lymphoma and Leukemia.
Dickie passed from this life to the next on April 2nd 1978. We miss you, Dickie and hope you are happy and celebrating with all of the family up there in Heaven.
Monday found me in deep reflection as my husband’s childhood friend, passed from this world to the next. Ted had a very bad heart and had suffered for years with medical problems. His heart finally gave out and before any of us could say good-bye, he was gone.
Ted was a gentle soul. I met him early on, when Hubby and I became engaged. He was not just a brilliant mind, but had a beautiful heart. 
Way back, when computers hit the market for ordinary people like you and me, I was afraid to use them. Ted got me set up with an email, and then each day he would write me, sending me things to do on the computer.
His patience kept me going until I was finally pretty good using the machine. That was way back in the days of our old IBM, dial-up and a slowness on the Internet, that we all accepted, but would drive me insane now.
Ted and I could sit and talk for hours during his visits to our home. The fishing trips that he and hubby took to the great North Woods of New Hampshire are legendary.
Back when we had a motor-coach, Ted would come up from New York, and the two would drive up to Pittsburgh, New Hampshire to go fishing. One time they conned me to come along to cook for them. It rained so hard, that eventually I left to come home. I went and bought a beautiful 2 pound lobster. I was thrilled that I would have this treat after all that rain! A while later I got a call, they were headed home. Rain and no fish meant they were bored, wet and tired! I raced to the store and bought two more lobsters, but the secret was out. As we sat eating these big boys, Hubby and Ted teased me unmercifully! This memory brings only smiles!
Oh, how I will miss this wonderful man. In the last years of his life he didn’t get up here, but he was always just a Skype call away. I talked to him a couple of months ago and he was telling me all about his son, his life partner, Barbara, step daughters and grandchildren. He felt very much at peace with his family and his life.
I hope, dear Ted, that you have found a wonderful spot in Heaven. A place where all your illnesses are healed and only happiness surrounds you.
I shall miss you!
My sister and her husband met when they were just kids. I think they’d just turned 13. They met at Briarwood Conference Center, during a religious camp week for teens. They’ve been married since 1971 and remain as close as they were when they were kids!
Long before I was born my family consisted of a mother and a father and my big brother, Richard and big sister, Melodie.
They were as close as two people could be and were best friends. Here is a picture of them that Dad took in their Sunday best!
Talk about two adorable kids!
The past weekend, the last in August, was simply perfect. The temperature was warm, and sunny with just a light breeze.
My town had an Artisan’s Craft Fair, and it was simply the best. My cousins, Janet and Dave were here on Sunday, and we three walked all over town, enjoying each and every Artisans booth. In fact they had the cutest necklaces with miniature maps under glass. And with the maps were something special about that place.
For instance, I bought two. The first is a map of Germany, and the small charm was a beer stein! It is amazing.
The second one I got was of Barbados. That one came with a pair of leaping dolphins. Both these places hold a special place in my heart. 
We also had our end of the year, Lobster Party, complete with steamers and corn on the cob. Oh goodness!
It was amazingly good!
The picture is courtesy of my cousin, Janet!
The dogs really enjoyed it too. You see after we are done with the Lobster, I get the tamale, the eggs and all the wonderful juices, and allow the dackels and Lili to slurp and eat away!
I can definitely say that by the end, we all were stuffed!
Friday found Melodie, Jinny and I going off to get a few things done. We wanted to get a new DVD player for Mel’s house, get a few last minute items for the baby shower and have lunch at Olive Garden. Mel and I stopped at Best Buy to get the DVD player and then we came out got into the car and watched the man next to us strap in his two girls. Then he drove off and my sister was checking for other cars,when she spotted a wallet. She quickly grabbed it and found no money, but all of his credit cards and his drivers license.
So she took it back to the store and we are hopeful he will return and get it back.
Lunch was great and then we came home to cook. We had one old family recipe for three layer bars, and one for Lemon Squares, that Melodie got from a friend. We even watched a DVD movie “The Fault In Our Stars”. Now the gifts are wrapped and we are ready for tomorrow!
Today I am writing about my dearest friend, Carol. I met her 8 years ago, and she quickly became one of the most important women in my life.
Carol is an identical twin. Her sister is named Carolyn. I cannot recall how many times I have teased her about this. After all, back when she was born, times were different. And with an identical twin, she may actually be Carolyn and not Carol at all! (lol)
She has told me many stories of her mother, affectionately called Ma, and I wish I’d gotten to meet her. She sounds like an amazing woman.
Carol is always a phone call away. She is never too busy to answer a call, or listen to my happy chattering, or hold me in her arms when I cry.
I’ve told her many times, that she is not just a friend, but a second mother to me. Someone who loves me regardless of my short comings.
She has said I am another daughter for her. I wasn’t looking for her, and she wasn’t looking for me, and yet, there we were eight years ago falling into each others paths.
Sometimes I believe that God finds people we should have in our lives. So he drops us into a situation and then lets us see how things work out.
So it was with Carol and I. We met, and decided that we really wanted to be in each others life.
What a blessing that has been in our lives.
Today is my sister, Melodie’s Birthday. She’s always been a very important person in my life, as well as my dearest sister!
Melodie’s greatest joy is watching her twin grandsons, Nolan and Gabriel grow, as well as her much loved Grandchildren, Abby, Taft and Luke. And now she is awaiting the birth of her daughter, Jinny’s first baby, a girl, in September!
Many people will never realize just how loved they are by Melodie. When she is in your life, you have a devoted family member or friend, who will do anything, and expect nothing more than a smile in return. My sister is a real gem!
Happy Birthday, Melodie!!! from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.
I wish for you a Happy Birthday, today, Mel and a wonderful year